In February, film festival Univerciné russe showcased the diversity and brilliance of Russian film, spanning six days at the cinema Katorza in Nantes. Late one Friday night, as fantasy thriller Dead Starlings was due to be screened for the first time in France, Liv Cowle spoke with the director, Natalia Perchina, for the ins and outs of the film.

​In this interview, Natalia gives insight into the spirits of the forest featured in Russian folklore, its cultural importance in modern Russia, and her view as a female writer/director on gender bias in the Russian film industry today.

Each year Nantes hosts a series of four film festivals known as Univerciné, showcasing the best German, British, Russian and Italian films on offer. In February, Univerciné russe is took place at the cinema Katorza, bringing the best of Russian cinema to our screens. I spoke with Macha Milliard, the director of the festival, to discuss what kind of films we could expect, the special guests taking part and the popularity of Russian film in Europe.